Product Description

Scientist and pharmaceutical CEO Dinah Taylor takes comfort in her orderly life, both professionally and within the walls of her luxury apartment. But the morning she buys breakfast for seven-year-old Jonah Morgan and his dog, "Mutt," her life changes in ways she could not have predicted. Breakfasts with Jonah are soon part of Dinah's daily routine, and she finds herself becoming the mysterious boy's main source of refuge. With no children of her own and harrowing memories of childhood, Dinah doubts her ability to help. However, to Jonah, Dinah is like a handpicked guardian angel he'll come to need more desperately than even he anticipates.

Publisher's Description

Dinah Taylor has an orderly life that is just how she likes it. A perfectly furnished luxury apartment, a satisfying career as a scientist and CEO of her own company, and an uncomplicated personal life. But all of that changes when she meets seven-year-old Jonah.

The boy shows up one day, a scruffy dog by his side, in front of her office building. Dinah knows nothing about kids and even less about animals, but after she buys him breakfast, he shows up the next day...and the next. She tries to learn more about him, to help him, but he's remarkably skilled at evading her questions. And then, late one night, he calls her in a panic-his dog has been badly injured. Dinah rushes them to a local animal clinic, where she meets Garret, a veterinarian with a thriving practice and a passion for drawing. Though Jonah takes to Garret right away, for some reason neither understands, Dinah and Garret just don't mesh. But for Jonah's sake, their lives continue to collide, and slowly the relationship between these three strangers begins to change.

Author Bio

Lauraine Snelling has been writing since 1980, with over 65 books published, both fiction and non-fiction, historical and contemporary, for adults and young readers. Her books consistently appear on CBA bestseller lists, and have been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German. A hallmark of her style is writing about real issues within a compelling story. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Bassett named Chewy. Visit her Web site at www.laurainesnelling.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Snelling's story has the potential to be a big hit. . ..[D]iverse and well rounded. The premise of the story is interesting and the prose is very moving."RT Book Reviews"Snelling writes about the foibles of human nature with keen insight and sweet honesty."National Church Library Association"Snelling (One Perfect Day) continues to draw fans with her stellar storytelling skills. This time she offers a look at smalltown medical care in a tale that blends healing, love, and a town's recovery. . .Snelling's description of events at the small clinic during the storm is not to be missed."Publisher's Weekly on Wake the Dawn"Snelling's fast-paced novel has characters who seek help in the wrong places. It takes a raging storm for the for them to see that the help they needed was right in front of them the whole time. This is a strong, believable story."RT Book Reviews, ****, on Wake the Dawn

"Lauraine Snelling's newest novel will keep you turning pages and not wanting to put the book down.. . .Wake The Dawn is a guaranteed good read for any fiction lover."

Heaven Sent Rain is a story that captures the heart and tickles the imagination. The tale is written with a flavor of mystery. Readers will find themselves captivated by the character of Jonah and his dog, Downmutt. The central female character is Dinah Taylor who loves to lose herself in research and discovery all to help others gain better health, but the role she must fill is that of CEO along with all the administrative responsibilities. Dinahs life seems orderly and her condos furniture, walls and dcor is all white with nothing out of place. Her routine never changes until she meets Jonah.

There is a vet whose lives with a menagerie of pets, loves to paint, sketch and draw. His artwork of various animals is displayed on the walls of the waiting room in his practice. Garrett publishes a weekly cartoon with animal characters for fun; though the newspaper would love to run it daily, Garrett declines. For Garrett being an animal doctor is what he is meant to do, and the cartoon is for fun as he doesnt want his love of drawing ruined by the pressure of having to produce something every day of the week.

Now that is basically the foundation of the story. What readers will discover is the deep faith in God that both Garrett and Jonah possess, but something in Dinahs past keeps her from being close to God. Lauraine Snelling does a wonderful job of slowly peeling back the history of Dinahs younger years to reveal why she is who she is as an adult. By slowly showing Garretts younger years, which are different than Dinahs, he is seen to have an event in the past that keeps him guarding his heart from loving any woman. I couldnt help but fall in love with the little boy character of Jonah and his mother, who appear to live so poorly and yet are rich beyond description in a way few people understand today. This is a great novel that reminds us of Who is more than we will ever understand this side of heaven, but cannot truly live without in our daily lives. Dont miss reading Heaven Sent Rain!

This is the first time I have read Lauraine Snelling but it won't be the last! I was so caught up in the story I had the hardest time putting this book down to get anything done!!

Dinah is a single woman, self- sufficient, biochemist and CEO of her own company, and very much in control of her life! Until.... she meets Jonah. She sees him just hanging out in front of her office building with a dog by his side. After taking pity on him, and buying him some breakfast, he shows up more frequently. She cant get him out of her mind... who is he, where is his family, where does he live, what kind of home does he have? He is not opening up.

After a night time emergency, in which Dinah takes Jonah and his dog to the urgent care vet, her life begins to change forever. They meet Dr G., with whom Dinah seems to clash, but Jonah seems to love. Dinah is able to find out more about Jonahs family, but in doing so, she is sealing her fate. And Dr G.? Well, somehow... God keeps putting him back in the picture. Even he doesnt understand why, when all he wants is to move on and get those eyes out of his mind.

Lauraine does an incredible job drawing you in to the story. Captivating you with the tale. Keeping you wondering and guessing. But hers is a tale of lives interwoven by God's grace. A tale of how He works in our lives behind the scenes drawing us back to Him even as we are running away. A tale of love, fear, faith and healing. It weaves the grace of God and hope into every corner of these lives. The past cannot be simply buried, it must be opened up and dealt with. And as it is, Gods amazing grace heals the hurts, the wounds, the pain and draws us into his loving arms, those arms that have been there all along guiding, sustaining, and waiting patiently for us to realize the error of our ways.

Coincidence? No providence is what this book is about! Highly recommended - with time to read! You will be blessed and inspired!

A big thanks to Lauraine who was willing to send me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! I am blessed to receive and read it!

I only bought the book because I like the cover. The whole time I was reading it I kept looking at the cover of the little boy and the dog. So cute. At the ending of the book Jonah and Dinah were still having problems. The epilogue sounded like they were one big happy family. There was no mention of Jonah or Dinah for that matter going to counseling. I think there should have been a sequel rather than an epilogue. The ending was rushed and disappointing.

Heaven Sent Rain is compelling reading. I was caught up in the life of the main character, Dinah, and the disruptive changes happening in her life. She is the CEO of a company she founded, specializing in herbal supplements. She has a disciplined and organized life.

All of that falls apart when she meets seven year old Jonah and his dog, Downmutt. Dinah befriends the young boy she notices sitting outside the burger place where she grabs breakfast. She is soon buying him breakfast and later meets his dying mom. An emergency phone call at night from Jonah and Dinah is gathering up him and a bleeding Downmutt, taking them first to her pristine condo and then to an emergency care veterinarian.

Dinah's life is turned upside down. Jonah's mother had made arrangements for Dinah to be Jonah's guardian. Dinah's latest supplement, an herbal aid for diabetics, is running into trouble thanks to drug companies fearful of losing money. And that veterinarian, Dr. G. What is it about him that unsettles her? Dinah's life crashes when she gets a call from the elementary school. Jonah is in serious trouble.

I really liked the character development in this novel. Dinah reluctantly allows a boy and his dirty dog into her all white dcor. That is symbolic of her letting them into her white, clean, and well organized life. Taking in Jonah is a drastic change to her disciplined life and controlled being. Jonah is a Christian and that is hard for Dinah who is very mad at God.

Through dialog with the veterinarian, we learn why she made her life this way and why she has gone into working with herbal supplements. Jonah is a dear boy. I just wanted to hug him.

There are just a couple of issues that made this novel less than perfect. I felt a certain disconnect from time to time. The point of view changes frequently from Dinah to Dr. G. and there were times I felt I was almost reading a different novel, like foreign matter had been inserted into the story line. It all comes together at the end but it was a disconcerting experience.

Also, the end is so abrupt. The novel builds and builds with all the issues Dinah is experiencing. The latest supplement is facing FDA intervention, delaying its release by months. And Jonah is seriously acting out. Then, poof, the epilogue. It is a fairy tale ending rather than one where we know all of these issues were successfully worked through. I felt I was cheated out of the healing process when I had become so familiar with the problems throughout the novel.

Nonetheless, even with the abrupt ending, this novel is a rewarding one. The character study of Dinah is superb. It is so well done I wish there would have been a sequel, rather than an abrupt epilogue.

I received a complimentary egalley of this novel from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.